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In good Grace: Trimmer leads Lady Raiders to Section 2-AAA title

By Jim Downey 3 min read
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UniontownëƵs Grace Trimmer (right) leads the field at the start of the Section 2-AAA meet Thursday afternoon at Mingo Creek Park. Trimmer cruised to a first-place finish in 19:38.
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Laurel HighlandsëƵ Isabella Baker maintains her pace in the second half of ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet at Mingo Creek Park. Baker finished second in a time of 21:19.
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ConnellsvilleëƵs Abigail Zavatchan leads a line of runners through the Mingo Creek Park course in ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet.
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RinggoldëƵs Emma Bartkus works her way through her home course at Mingo Creek Park in ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet.
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ConnellsvilleëƵs Hannah TInkey runs in ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet at Mingo Creek Park.
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ConnellsvilleëƵs Zoey Thomas holds a slight lead on Laurel HighlandsëƵ Ally Mattey in the first half of Thursday's Section 2-AAA meet at Mingo Creek Park.
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Albert GallatinëƵs Mia Medved runs through the first half of the Mingo Creek Park course in ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet. Medved withdrew midway through the race.
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ConnellsvilleëƵs Zoey Thomas sprints down the last hill during ThursdayëƵs Section 2-AAA meet at Mingo Creek Park.

FINLEYVILLE ëƵ UniontownëƵs Grace Trimmer missed most of the season while in concussion protocol, but she returned in time to help her teammates secure the Section 2-AAA title on Thursday at Mingo Creek Park.

Trimmer breezed to a first-place finish in 19:38 on her first time on the course. She ran her first race last week at Connellsville and is just happy to be doing what she enjoys.

ëƵIëƵm glad to be back,ëƵ Trimmer said with a big smile. ëƵI am trying to take it slowly. ItëƵs been really rough. I feel like IëƵm back with my lungs.

ëƵIt was so frustrating for four weeks. I couldnëƵt run over a mile. It was agony just sitting there.ëƵ

Trimmer noted she improved over last weekëƵs run at Connellsville.

ëƵI did feel better today than I did last week at Connellsville,ëƵ said Trimmer. ëƵIëƵll take that break so I can peak at the right time.ëƵ

Laurel HighlandsëƵ Isabella Baker was second in 21:19 and teammate Taylor Schwertfeger was third in 21:54.

ëƵItëƵs nice to have Grace back. ItëƵs nice to have that person ahead of you to push you,ëƵ said Baker.

Baker ran the course recently and picked up a pointer or two on where and how to attack.

ëƵI learned to go out a little quicker and pick up time on the hills,ëƵ said Baker. ëƵThe hills are worse on the way back.

ëƵMy goal was to PR today and I had a five-second PR.ëƵ

Baker has her sights set on the district meet.

ëƵMy goal is to get my time down in the 20:30s by the WPIAL meet,ëƵ said Baker.

Connellsville freshman Abigail Zavatchan was fourth with a time of 22:12.

Uniontown began its run to clinch the section title by taking five of the next six finishers.

Arrington Scott (5, 22:18), Charley Murtha (6, 22:35), Paisley Murtha (7, 22:36), Hannah Foster (9, 22:56), and Emma Young (10, 23:10) all had top-10 finishes.

The Lady Raiders defeated Albert Gallatin (15-50), Connellsville (18-45), Ringgold (16-47), and Laurel Highlands (23-37) to finish with an 8-0 record.

Laurel Highlands picked up wins against Albert Gallatin (15-50), Ringgold (25-30), and Connellsville (25-30) to close with a 6-2 record. Ringgold edged Connellsville (27-29) and beat Albert Gallatin (15-50) for a 3-5 record.

The Lady Falcons defeated Albert Gallatin, 15-50, for a 5-3 record.

Connellsville senior Zoey Thomas was 12th with a time of 24:28 after moving up in the pack throughout the race.

ëƵI picked them off one at a time. I was just passing schools in different jerseys,ëƵ said Thomas. ëƵMy pace was pretty steady. I picked off people in the second half of the race.

ëƵWe wanted to finish with a winning record. There was some pressure, but we went out and did our job.ëƵ

With Lily Brenneman nursing an injury, Emma Bartkus was the top finisher for Ringgold in eighth place with a time of 22:39.

Albert GallatinëƵs Mia Medved was with the leaders, but dropped out midway through the race.

Teammate Ashley Comaty was 15th with a time of 26:19.

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